RELIGION: THE YOKE OF BONDAGE

I am constantly hearing of born again believers who are being enticed to "come away to the truth" of some cult, or some "more enlightened" group.  And inevitably, the "new truthers" have two major flaws:  for one, they believe only they have the "true light," and everyone else is deceived; and two, they seek to subjugate proselytes to either the Law of Moses, or to a Law unique to their own particular cult or denomination.  Mormonism immediately comes to mind, but there are also many churches that present the Gospel, only to add membership and works as conditions necessary to maintain one's salvation:  Roman Catholicism, Churches of Christ, and most of the Protestant churches that teach one can lose their salvation, fit into this group.

The fact is, salvation is based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ for our sin; and it is a free gift to all those who will believe (Jn. 3:3-18; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9).  Salvation, itself, is the work of God from beginning to end (Rom. 8:28-29; Phil. 1:6), and born again believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of our redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).  We who believe in Jesus Christ are not religious, but are in a relationship; we know we are God's children (1 Jn. 3:2; 5:13)! 

False teachers, cult leaders, and Satan himself, want nothing more than to get you to trust in your own works in order to become "worthy" of heaven.  They are quick to point out the hypocrisy of those who declare themselves free from the bondage of the Law, because we are not sinless  (ironic, since neither are they)!  Our answer to them should be what Paul wrote to the Galatians:  "Be led by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh" (see also Rom. 7:14 - 8:14)!   

¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses" (Gal. 5:16-18 NLT).

The only yoke one should accept is the one with Jesus on the other side!